Five-Year-Old Sets Duplex Ablaze While Playing with Matchsticks
A five-year-old boy reportedly caused a duplex building to catch fire while playing with matchsticks on Monday in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State.
The incident occurred at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, off Yidi Road, in the Irewole area of Ilorin West Local Government Area. One of the rooms in the duplex was completely gutted, and significant property damage occurred before firefighters from the state fire service arrived at the scene to prevent the entire building from being destroyed.
An eyewitness, who identified himself as Lanre Abdulrazaq and said he was working nearby, recounted the event to Punch Online. He stated, “We suddenly noticed thick smoke emerging from the building, and we immediately raised the alarm to alert people in the vicinity for a rescue effort.”
“We did not know the cause of the fire but later we saw the fire service who arrived and contained the fire.”
However, the spokesman for the state fire service, Hassan Adekunle, who confirmed the fire, said the incident was caused by a five-year-old boy who was playing with matches that he unknowingly dropped on a combustible material that escalated the fire.
Adekunle, a principal fire officer and head of Media and Publicity in the state fire service, in a statement issued on Monday night said, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the fire was caused by a five-year-old boy playing with matches, who inadvertently dropped a lit stick on combustible material, igniting the flames
“On Monday, 3rd February 2025, at about 17:32 hours, the Kwara State Fire Service received a distress call regarding a fire outbreak at Abiodun Adebiyi Close, Off Yidi Road, Irewolede Area, Ilorin.
“Our gallant firefighters sprang into action, arriving swiftly at the scene to find one room in a five-bedroom duplex engulfed in flames.
“Through sheer expertise and technical precision, the team worked fervently to contain the fire, ensuring it did not spread to other rooms or nearby buildings. Thanks to their exceptional skill and coordination, only one room was affected.
“The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Prince Falade John, commended the firefighters for their swift and tactical response.
“He urged the public to prioritize fire safety and advised parents to keep matches away from children, emphasizing that a single matchstick could destroy an entire building.”
Adekunle said that the State Fire Service remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting lives and property through professionalism and rapid emergency response.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Yusuf Amuda Abubakar Okala Baba Isapa Kwara State Council Of Chiefs Amuda Aluko Okin Malt Toyosi Thomas Veterinary Teaching Hospital Fatai Garuba Labaka Muhammad Ghali Alaaya N-Power Ohoro Of Shao Balogun Fulani Oba Abdulkadir La\'aro Ibrahim Oloriegbe Isiaka Gold Ibrahim Abikan Adijat Adebiyi Akume National Information Technology Development Agency Kwasu Illyasu Abdullahi Ilorin Durbar Sulu Babaita Isiaka Matthew Okedare Okin Group Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen Coalition Of Kwara North Groups Abdulrazaq Sanni Bashiru Makama Ayegbeni Lai Mohammed Rueben Parejo Bolaji Abdullahi Sheriff Olanrewaju Muhammadu Gobir Ilorin Anchor Men And Women Suleman Abubakar Code Of Conduct Bureau Pacify Labs Simeon Sule Ajibola Gbajabiamila Sobi Balogun Gambari Alloy Chukwuemeka Abdulfatai Ahmed Sulyman Tejidini Toyin Sanusi Fatimoh Lawal Wahab Femi Agbaje Alagbado Tayo Alao Ambassador Kayode Laro Baba-Isale Mamatu Abdullahi Oya State LAK Jimoh Kale Bayero Amos Justus Sayo Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria Awili Pedro Kumbi Titilope Tope Daramola Saka Keji Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat Sa\'adu Salahu Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir Sulyman Atolagbe Alege Raji AbdulRasaq Gbenga Awoyale Yaru Haruna Olawale Sulaiman Code Of Conduct Tribunal Yusuf Ali Joseph Alex Offorjama Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies

